Method and device for turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine

ABSTRACT

A method and device for turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine, whereby a group of products, arranged in at least one stack, is fed into a container, from which the group is expelled by a push device after the container is rotated 90° about an axis from a loading position to a turned-over unloading position; the container has a first and a second passage enabling the push device to move through the container when the container is in the turned-over unloading position and the loading position respectively. (FIG.  1 )

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine, i.e. a machine for conditioning one or more stacks of products in a single wrapping.

[0002] The present invention, which can be used for conditioning any type of “stackable” product, is particularly advantageous for use on machines for cartoning packets of cigarettes, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the tobacco industry, a cartoning machine is supplied with a succession of packets of cigarettes, which are laid flat one on top of the other to form a succession of stacks, each comprising a given number of packets. The stacks are formed into orderly groups, each of which comprises a given number of side by side stacks, and forms the content of a carton obtained by means of a packaging operation wherein a sheet or blank of packaging material is folded about the relative group. Prior to performing the packaging operation, it is often necessary or convenient to turn the stacks over through 90° so that the packets in the groups are positioned on edge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of turning over stacks of products, which is straightforward and easy to implement.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of turning over stacks of products, which provides for minimizing downtime.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a method of turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine, as claimed in claim 1 and, preferably, in any one of the Claims depending directly and/or indirectly on claim 1.

[0007] The present invention also relates to a device for turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine.

[0008] According to the present invention, there is also provided a device for turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine, as claimed in claim 9 and, preferably, in any one of the Claims depending directly and/or indirectly on claim 9.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1 to 6 show schematic views in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the turnover device according to the present invention in respective different operating positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Number 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates as a whole a cigarette cartoning machine comprising a turnover device 2 for turning over groups 3 of packets 4 of cigarettes arranged in stacks 5. In the example shown, turnover device 2 provides for turning over, through 90° and about a substantially horizontal axis 6, a succession of groups 3, each of which is originally defined by two side by side stacks 5 of five packets, in which packets 4 are laid flat horizontally.

[0011] Turnover device 2 comprises a turnover station 7, to which groups 3 are fed, in their original configuration and by means of a push device 8, in a horizontal direction 9 parallel to axis 6, and from which groups 3 are expelled, in a second substantially horizontal direction 10 perpendicular to axis 6, and by means of a further push device 11, in a configuration turned over through 90°, and in which packets 4 are positioned on edge.

[0012] Turnover station 7 is defined by a box 12 in the form of a rectangular prism and sized to accommodate one group 3. More specifically, box 12 comprises two major lateral walls 13 parallel to each other and to axis 6, and which are connected, at a lateral end opposite that facing push device 8, by a minor lateral wall 14, to the outer surface of which is connected integrally a shaft 15 coaxial with axis 6 and fitted with a crank 16 connected to the output of an actuating device 17 for oscillating box 12, by 90° about axis 6, between a loading position, in which major lateral walls 13 are positioned vertically, and a turned-over unloading position, in which major lateral walls 13 are positioned horizontally.

[0013] The ends of the two major lateral walls 13 located at the bottom when major lateral walls 13 are positioned vertically, are connected by a bottom wall 18, and the ends of major lateral walls 13 opposite minor lateral wall 14 and opposite bottom wall 18 define respective openings 19 and 20 for the passage of group 3 in direction 9 and direction 10 respectively.

[0014] Push device 11 comprises an L-shaped push member 21, in turn comprising a push arm 22 parallel to axis 6 and movable through turnover station 7 and box 12, and an actuating arm 23 parallel to direction 10 and movable back and forth along a path P parallel to direction 10 and extending outside the end of box 12 facing push device 8.

[0015] For push arm 22 to move through box 12, box 12 is provided with two passages 24 and 25; passage 24 is formed through bottom wall 18, and is defined by a slot parallel to axis 6 and communicating with opening 19 at the end facing push device 8; and passage 25 is defined by two slots 26 formed, facing each other, through major lateral walls 13 and aligned with direction 10 when box 12 is in the loading position with bottom wall 18 positioned horizontally. Each of slots 26 is substantially similar to the slot defining passage 24, is parallel to axis 6, and communicates with opening 19 at the end facing push device 8.

[0016] In actual use, box 12, which is initially empty, is set to a loading position with opening 20 facing upwards (FIG. 1), and receives a group 3 (FIG. 2), the packets 4 of which are laid flat, and which is pushed by push device 8 into box 12 through opening 19 in direction 9. At this point, actuating device 17 is operated to turn box 12 (FIG. 3) over through 90° (anticlockwise in the drawings), so that packets 4 are positioned on edge, bottom wall 18 is positioned vertically, and opening 20 faces in direction 10; and push member 21 of push device 11 (FIG. 4) is moved in direction 10 from a rest position outside box 12, so that push arm 22 engages the passage 24 slot and pushes group 3 out of box 12 through opening 20 in direction 10.

[0017] When push arm 22 comes out of box 12 in direction 10, box 12, which is completely free (on account of actuating arm 23 extending alongside the outside of box 12), can be restored (FIG. 5) to the initial loading position to receive the next group 3. And only at this point is push arm 22 (FIG. 6) withdrawn through slots 26 of passage 25 back into the initial rest position.

[0018] As will be clear from the above description, if passage 25 were not provided, box 12 could only be rotated back into the loading position after push arm 22 is withdrawn, and not, as described, as push arm 22 completes the forward movement and begins the return movement, thus greatly increasing the downtime involved. 

1. A method of turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine, the method comprising a first feed step, in which a group (3) of products (4) arranged in at least one stack (5) is fed to a turnover station (7); a turnover step, in which said group (3) is turned over through 90° about an axis (6) at said turnover station (7); and a second feed step, in which the turned-over said group (3) is expelled from said turnover station (7) by push means (11) which perform a forward movement and a return movement through said turnover station (7); the group (3) being turned over at the turnover station (7) by turning over about said axis (6), and between a first loading position and a second unloading position turned 90° with respect to said first position, a container (12) into which said group (3) is fed; and the container (12) having a first and a second passage (24, 25) enabling said push means (11) to move through said container (12) when the container (12) is in said second position and said first position respectively.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said group (3) is fed into said container (12) in a first direction (9) and when the container (12) is in said first position, and is expelled from said container (12) in a second direction (10) and when the container (12) is in said second position; the container (12) having a first opening (19) facing the first direction (9) and for the passage of said group (3), and a second opening (20) for the passage of said group (3) and facing said first passage (24) and said second direction (10) when the container (12) is in said second position; said push means (11) moving through said container (12) from a rest position outside said container (12), engaging said first passage (24) and said second opening (20) during said forward movement, and engaging, during said return movement, said second passage (25), which is formed in said container (12) in a position which is aligned with said second direction (10) when the container (12) is in said first position.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said expulsion step comprises, in the following order, the substeps of moving said container (12) into said second position; imparting said forward movement to said push means (11) to move the push means (11) through and beyond said container (12) in said second direction (10) by engaging said first passage (24) and then said second opening (20); rotating said container (12) about said axis (6) into said first position; and imparting said return movement to said push means (11) to restore the push means (11) to said rest position by engaging said second passage (25).
 4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said container (12) comprises a number of walls (13, 14, 18); said second passage (25) comprising two slots (26) facing each other and formed in two respective said walls (13) facing each other and crosswise to said second direction (10) when the container (12) is in said first position.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said axis (6) is parallel to said first direction (9).
 6. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and said second direction (9, 10) are perpendicular.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and said second direction (9, 10) are both horizontal.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and said second passage (24, 25) communicate laterally with said first opening (19); and said push means (11) comprise an L-shaped push member (21), in turn comprising a push arm (22) movable through said first and said second passage (24, 25) and extending crosswise to said second direction (10), and an actuating arm (23) parallel to said second direction (10) and movable, during said forward and said return movement, along a path (P) parallel to said second direction (10) and outside said container (12).
 9. A device for turning over stacks of products on a cartoning machine, the device (2) comprising a turnover station (7) for turning over, through 90° and about an axis (6), at least one group (3) of products (4) arranged in at least one stack (5); feed means (8) for feeding said group (3) to said turnover station (7) in a first direction (9); and push means (11) by which said group (3) turned over at said turnover station (7) is expelled in a second direction (10); said push means (11) moving through said turnover station (7) in a forward movement and a return movement in said second direction; said turnover station (7) comprising a container (12) for receiving at least one said group (3) and mounted to rotate about said axis (6) between a first loading position and a second unloading position turned 90° with respect to said first position; and the container (12) having a first and a second passage (24, 25) enabling said push means (11) to move through said container (12) when the container (12) is in said second position and said first position respectively.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said feed means (8) are movable in a first direction (9), and said push means (11) are movable in a second direction (10); the container (12) having a first opening (19) facing the first direction (9) and for the passage of said group (3), and a second opening (20) for the passage of said group (3) and facing said first passage (24) and said second direction (10) when the container (12) is in said second position; and said push means (11) moving through said container (12) from a rest position outside said container (12), engaging said first passage (24) and said second opening (20) during said forward movement, and engaging, during said return movement, said second passage (25), which is formed in said container (12) in a position which is aligned with said second direction (10) when the container (12) is in said first position.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said container (12) comprises a number of walls (13, 14, 18); said second passage (25) comprising two slots (26) facing each other and formed in two respective said walls (13) facing each other and crosswise to said second direction (10) when the container (12) is in said first position.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said container (12) is a box (12) in the form of a rectangular prism, and having two first lateral walls (13) parallel to said first direction (9); a second lateral wall (14) perpendicular to said first lateral walls (13) and facing said first opening (19); and an end wall (18) facing said second opening (20); said first passage (24) being formed through said end wall (18), and said second passage (25) comprising two slots (26), each formed in a respective said first lateral wall (13).
 13. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said axis (6) is parallel to said first direction (9).
 14. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and said second direction (9, 10) are perpendicular.
 15. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and said second direction (9, 10) are both horizontal.
 16. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and said second passage (24, 25) communicate laterally with said first opening (19); and said push means (11) comprise an L-shaped push member (21), in turn comprising a push arm (22) movable through said first and said second passage (24, 25) and extending crosswise to said second direction (10), and an actuating arm (23) parallel to said second direction (10) and movable, during said forward and said return movement, along a path (P) parallel to said second direction (10) and outside said container (12). 